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Steeltown's Other Side Written & Photographed by Paul Shaker

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Steeltown's Other Side Written & Photographed by Paul Shaker Steeltown’s Other Side Written & photographed by Paul Shaker except where noted. For a city whose image is so linked with gritty industrial landscapes, it may come as a surprise to many that Hamilton’s biggest defining feature is actually a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. he UNESCO-designated Niagara Escarpment, or “mountain” as it’s known locally, winds Tits way through the city offering locals and visitors ▲ Geotrail worked with Tourism Hamilton alike, amazing views of the and Royal Botanical Gardens to map community. It is part of Hamilton-area trails and waterfall hikes. daily life for thousands of Hamiltonians as the morning commute involves walking, driving, or cycling up and down the Escarpment. It also provides the basis for incredible waterfalls that are within walking distance of most Hamiltonians. A short hike from many residential neighbourhoods will take you ▲ Tiffany Falls is a popular destination for ice climbers who ▲ The Geotrail online map website ▶ can be watched from a viewing deck. PHOTO BY DEREK PURDY. can go with you on a mobile device. 24 Winter 2013-14 25 Winter 2013-14 ▲ Dundas Peak gives a view of Webster’s Falls can be viewed Spectacular year-round, Cootes Paradise, Lake Ontario from the top or from a trail that Tews Falls is the tallest waterfall and downtown Hamilton. goes to the bottom of the falls. in the Hamilton area. ▶ Trails can be icy in winter. ▼ Steeltown’s Other Side ▶ ▲ Special equipment lets climbers walk up the frozen Tiffany Falls. PHOTO BY DEREK PURDY. ▲ The beautiful ribbon to numerous waterfalls, some Botanical Gardens which, Interestingly, there is a histori- in the history of Hamilton’s the public and there are a savvy, the local tourism agency area. Here are a few hikes that waterfall Sherman hidden and some spectacularly in additional to the famous cal link between the industrial waterfalls. few walks in particular that uses the web-tool Geotrail.ca will take you to the best views Falls was named on display for all to see. garden areas, has 27 km of heritage of the region and the Many of the more-than make for a great day’s hike. to show visitors how to get in the region. after the founder of The Escarpment also trails that weave in and around Niagara Escarpment and the 100 waterfalls in the Hamilton Adventurers can grab a trail outside and enjoy some of the the Hamilton steel company DOFASCO. shapes the terrain of the Royal the Escarpment’s waterfalls. two intersect more than once area are easily accessible to map or for the more tech- best waterfalls hikes in the Continued on page 46 ▶ 26 Winter 2013-14 27 Winter 2013-14 Steeltown’s Other Side ▶ Continued from page 27 Webster’s Falls and you eventually reach the falls Gorge Walk which presents itself like a hidden This is a popular weekend geological treasure found in an waterfall outing. On this hike Indiana Jones movie. There is a you will see three amazing viewing deck for the falls and if waterfalls and one heck of you venture there in the winter, a view from the Niagara you might catch a group of ice Escarpment. Starting at climbers working their way to Cascades Park in Dundas, the top. this hike takes you up the Further west, you find an Escarpment passing Sydenham equally enchanting site, Sherman Falls where you will eventually Falls, named after the Sherman come to Dundas Peak, an family, former landowner and outcropping with a view second 1912 founder of the Dominion to none. Catch your breath, take Foundry and Steel Company a break and a photograph. (DOFASCO). Sherman Falls is a Looking east you will see 17-metre ribbon waterfall that Cootes Paradise, the western- is visible year round. At this most part of Lake Ontario and point you can head back, or loop even further in the distance, the around to the Ancaster Old Mill skyline of downtown Hamilton. Inn and take a break to have Continuing along the trail, you some refreshment while enjoying will come to Tews Falls, the the Mill Falls and Lower Mill tallest waterfall in the Hamilton Falls. In total, you are looking at region with a drop of over 40 about a two-hour outing. metres. With the spring runoff, These hikes offer just a this waterfall is in its prime, glimpse of the beauty of the although it’s impressive year- Niagara Escarpment in the round. Hamilton region. In order to Moving even further west, promote Steeltown’s other side, you come to one of the most the Royal Botanical Gardens and famous falls in the region, Tourism Hamilton partnered Webster’s Falls, named for the with Geotrail, an Ontario-based Webster family who purchased outdoor mapping company, to the surrounding lands in 1819. bring the local trail networks and Take in the view, or for the waterfalls hikes to the growing more adventurous, hike down online map that showcases to the bottom of the falls. more-than 1,000 trails. With a Webster’s Falls is captured on few clicks of a mouse you can countless postcards and has browse through a variety of been the most frequently visited trails in the Hamilton region, waterfall in Hamilton for more and take a closer look at 10 than a century and has even waterfall hikes with photos and appeared in a few Hollywood additional information. Once movies. you find a hike that interests In total, a round trip on this you, you can print out a map hike will take you about three or take the map with you on a hours and the walk back is smartphone or tablet. To start considerably easier as you are exploring more waterfall hikes in mostly going downhill. the Hamilton region, check out hamiltonwaterfalls.geotrail.ca Ancaster Village NEV Waterfall Walk Another great adventure is on the Paul Shaker is co-founder of Geotrail, south-facing part of the Niagara a social enterprise that promotes Escarpment. Starting at Tiffany hiking and outdoor education. For Falls Conservation Area, the first more, see Geotrail.ca. stop is the immediate namesake A short version of this article first of the area, Tiffany Falls. The appeared on the Niagara Escarpment trek to the falls is a winding path Views website NEViews.ca on up a ravine, over bridges until July 22, 2013. 46 Winter 2013-14.
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